Method of making a shovel



Oct. 17, 1939. RE DY 2,176,436

METHOD OF MAKING A SHOVEL Filed Aug. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Invemiorv7. Ready, qw z w Oct. 17, 1939. w, READY 2,176,436

METHOD OF MAKING A SHOVEL Filed Aug. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedOct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING A SHOVELApplication August 12, 1936, Serial No. 95,602

4 Claims.

This invention relates to shovels or like tools having a blade and ahandle-receiving socket, and more particularly to those types of shovelsv known as plain-back shovels and back-strap B shovels, wherein thesocket is formed from a pair of straps one of which is integral oreffectively integral with the blade proper and the other is formed froma separate piece having an enlarged head overlying the rear portion ofthe blade to form a frog designed to receive the end of the handle.Objects of this invention are to provide an improved method formanufacturing such tools, resulting in a novel and stronger articlehaving advantages which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings whereinby way of example I have shown my invention applied to a shovel of theback-strap type and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a rear plan view of a partly formed blade;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a pre-formed back strap;

Figs. 3 and 4 are a plan and edge view respectively on a much largerscale of an element utilized in connecting the above mentioned parts;

Fig. 5 is a rear plan view showing the parts of Figs. 1 and 3 assembled;

Fig. 6 is a similar View at a later stage in the process of manufacture;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section in the plan of the line l--! of Fig. 6,illustrating a later step in the process; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the completed shovel.

The tool herein shown is of the back-strap type and comprises the bladel0 having the front strap l2 extending from the rear edge thereof, thestrap being either integral or efiectively integral with the bladeproper. As shown in Fig. 1, the strap l2 may be pre-formed in the blankat least approximately to its desired cross-section to cause it to fitthe wooden handle 14 and to the desired profile or longitudinalcurvature to give the proper lift to the shovel. The socket forreceiving the handle is completed by means of a back strap, as shown inFig. 2, comprising a strap or tongue'proper l6, likewise pre-formed tothe transverse cross-sectional curvature and longitudinal profile topermit it to cooperate with strap I 2 to receive the handle, and anenlarged head [8 which overlies the rear portion of the blade and issecured thereto. Herein the head is formed by shoulders 22 extendinglaterally and adapted to coincide with the rear edge of the blade illand a forward boundary which, as in my Patent 2,105,007, may be curvedthroughout its width and have its greatest transverse dimension at anintermediate point, being herein formed as the major segment of acircle. The central portions of the blade In on the one hand and of theenlarged head I8 on the other in line with the straps l2 and It may bepressed outwardly at 9 and 2! as shown to form the frog for receivingthe end of the handle.

The next step in the manufacture of the shovel is securing together theparts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the form of the invention shown I pressor ofiset a portion of the blade it at the base of the strap I2forwardly to provide a depression 25 corresponding in form to theenlarged head l8. The depth of this depression may correspond to thethickness of the head i8 and the area of the bottom of the depression toits area. When the head is laid into the depression, as in Fig. 5, agroove 26 is defined between the outer edge of the head I8 and the wallof the depression. The head is then welded in position around theforwardly facing margin of the same, corresponding herein to thecircular segment, by the addition of welding metal w, Fig. 6, applied tofill up the groove as by means of electric arc welding.

The back strap and the blade being thus joined, as shown in Fig. 6, thesurplus metal at the weld may be milled or ground off. In the case of abackstrap shovel as herein disclosed, I prefer to retrude or press backthe depression 25 so that the upper surface of the blade outwardly ofthe frog is a continuous surface.

To complete the shovel I join together the opposed surfaces of the bladeand of the head at either side of the location of the straps by aninterfusionof the metal extending over a substantial area forward of therear edge of the shovel. This may be ,eifected by electric welding ofthe area type and is preferably effected as follows:

At the upper end of the shovel after the weld at w is completed there isan open joint between the rear edge of the blade and the shoulders 22 ofthe head l8. To facilitate the welding operation small metal plates 28may be inserted into the open joint. I have herein shown these plates ofsemi-circular form and provided with ears 30 which engage the upper edgeof the head or the blade as the case may be to position the plates inthe joint in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and '7. The parts of the shovelshown in Figs. 1 and 2 are preferably formed of high carbon steel topermit them to be heat treated after assembly to give the desiredstrength and resiliency to the tool. In this case I prefer to make theplates 28 of soft steel.

The plates being inserted as shown in Fig. 6, the parts are pressedtogether with a strong pressure at the location of these plates by meansof the electrodes 32, and an electric current of high density passedbetween the electrodes for a brief moment, in accordance with thepractice sometimes referred to as shot welding. The heat is effectivelylocalized by the plates 28 which fuse with and are alloyed with theadjacent high carbon steel parts l8 and I0, binding them together firmlyover substantial areas extending inwardly from the rear of the shovel ateither side of the frog. It may be remarked that the lug 30 melts awayand effectively disappears in the welding process.

The blade H3 may then be trimmed if necessary and shaped to final formin the usual manner.

I have described the weld w as made first, but it will be clear that theorder of the welding steps may be reversed.

The shovel is completed by securing in position the usual handle whichmay be secured by rivet 34, Fig. 8, applied near the upper end of thestraps. It has been customary and necessary in tools of this kindhitherto to apply a rivet near the base of the handle. The handle,however, is

so firmly bound by the frog secured by the welded areas at 30 that suchrivet is unnecessary. Because of the preforming of the parts, the frogis open ready for the reception of the handle. At the same time theblade and strap head are firmly bound together in face to face relationover substantial areas lateral to the frog and such connection has beeneffected in a manner which did not disturb the initial form of thesocket forming parts.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. The method of making a shovel which comprises preforming a bladeblank having a strap extending from the rear edge thereof to give saidstrap at least substantially its final transverse and longitudinalcurvatures for receiving a handle, similarly preforming a strap memberhaving an enlarged head, assembling the parts with the head overlyingthe rear of the blade, welding the forwardly facing margin of the headto the blade, inserting metal discs between the opposed faces of thehead and blade at the rear edge of the latter and at either side of thestraps and causing said discs to interfuse with and unite the head andblade.

. 2. The method according to claim 1 where the discs are of relativelysoft steel and the blade and strap of high carbon steel.

3. The method of forming a shovel which comprises assembling a bladeblank having a strap projecting from the rear edge thereof with acooperating strap having an enlarged head, said head overlying the rearof the blade at the root of the first strap, Welding together head andblade around the forwardly facing margin of the former, inserting metaldiscs between the opposed faces of the head and blade at the rear edgeof the latter and at either side of the straps and causing said discs tointerfuse with and unite the head and blade. 7

4. The method of forming a shovel which comprises assembling a bladeblank having a strap projecting from the rear edge thereof with acooperating strap having an enlarged head, said head overlying the rearof the blade at the root of the first strap, welding together head andblade around the forwardly facing margin of the former, insertingmetallic discs between blade and head in the joint at the rear edge ofthe latter, said discs having means cooperating with said rear edge toposition the same in the joint, pressing the parts strongly'together atthe locations of said discs and causing the parts to interfuse at saidlocations by the brief application of an electric current of highdensity.

WILLIAM A. READY.

